Learn basic principles of insect life. Students should gain knowledge of:

1. Classification of all orders of insects and select families from each order.
2. External morphology, internal anatomy, physiology, and development of insects.
3. Biological and ecological relationships of all insect orders and families covered including relation of insects to humans.
4. Collecting methods for members of each insect order.
5. Correct preservation of members of each insect order.
6. Diversity of Phylum Arthropoda.

Prerequisite of one year of biology.

Submission of a comprehensive insect collection is required to PASS the course.

UNDERGRADUATES

Lecture Exams and Make-Up Exams: There will be three, equally-weighted major exams (including the final exam) that will each be worth 16.67% of your overall grade for the class. The final exam will NOT be comprehensive but will cover all of the material since the previous exam. Exams will usually contain various types of testing formats (i.e. multiple choice, matching, true/false, fill in the blank, listing, drawing/labeling, and short answer). You MUST present a valid university excuse to make up a missed lecture exam. A missed exam should be made up immediately (i.e. before exams are passed back to the class). 

Course Grading: The following is a breakdown of your final course grade:

LECTURE                                                                          LAB                                      

Exam #1     =16.67%                                                        Exam #1            = 4%

Exam #2     =16.67%                                                        Final Exam        = 6%

Final Exam =16.67%                                                        Insect Collection=40%                      

total             =50%                                                              total                   =50%

The grading scale used to determine your letter grade for the course is as follows:

A            =             90-100%

B            =             80-89%

C            =             70-79%

D            =             60-69%

F             =             below 60% 

GRADUATES

Lecture Exams and Make-Up Exams: There will be three, equally-weighted major exams (including the final exam) that will each be worth 15.00% of your overall grade for the class. The final exam will NOT be comprehensive but will cover all of the material since the previous exam. Exams will usually contain various types of testing formats (i.e. multiple choice, matching, true/false, fill in the blank, listing, drawing/labeling, and short answer). You MUST present a valid university excuse to make up a missed lecture exam. A missed exam should be made up immediately (i.e. before exams are passed back to the class).

Course Grading: The following is a breakdown of your final course grade:

LECTURE                                                                     LAB                                    

Exam #1     =15.00%                                                    Exam #1            = 4%

Exam #2     =15.00%                                                    Final Exam        = 6%

Final Exam =15.00%                                                    Insect Collection=40%

Presentation = 5.00%                                                   total                   =50%                   

total             =50%                                                         

The grading scale used to determine your letter grade for the course is as follows:

A           =            90-100%

B           =            80-89%

C           =            70-79%

D           =            60-69%

F            =            below 60%

Graduate Presentation: You will be required to give a 15-minute oral presentation over any current entomological topic of your choice. The presentation must contain peer-reviewed research published within the last three years. There are numerous journals devoted to publication of entomological research. Various general topics involve behavior, physiology, evolution, paleontology, taxonomy, biological control, ecology, conservation, forensics, parasitology, immature insects, aquatic entomology, entomophagous insects, etc. You will need to spend time searching the entomological literature and deciding on what you will present to the class. Some entomological-based journals are available online with searchable free access. Others you will only have access to the abstract and may want to order the article through Interlibrary Loan. Do not procrastinate in working on this assignment. I suggest you start on it at the beginning of the semester. A handout that includes an abstract of your presentation and citations of all references that were used in developing your presentation should be prepared to give to your instructor and pass out to all class members on the day of your presentation. Citation format should follow one specific journal style. You will need to inform me what journal style you are following. Make sure you are prepared to answer questions about your presentation. In order to prevent duplication of topics, please inform the instructor of your chosen topic as soon as you have decided on it. You will need to provide the instructor with the title of your presentation the week before you give your presentation. Presentations will occur during lab time. We will decide on the actual presentation dates within the first couple of weeks of class. You will deliver your presentation near mid-semester. This presentation will be worth 5.00% of your overall course grade for the class.

Class Attendance:  You are expected to attend all classes.  A lot of material is presented in each class period, which makes it easy to fall behind if a class is missed.  If you miss a class, it is YOUR responsibility to get class notes from your classmates and handouts from the instructor.  

You MUST present a valid university excuse to make up a missed lecture exam.  A missed exam should be made up immediately (i.e. before exams are passed back to the class).  

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

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